Skeeter Syndrome, often known as ‘mosquito bite allergy’, is a uncommon allergic response that happens when a mosquito bites an individual however whereas most individuals expertise minor itching, redness and swelling on the mosquito chunk web site, people with Skeeter Syndrome have an exaggerated immune response. This medical problem is believed to be an allergic response to proteins current in mosquito saliva.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Nikhil Kulkarni, Consultant-Internal Medicine at SL Raheja Hospital in Mahim, defined, “When a mosquito bites a person to suck their blood, it punctures their skin with its proboscis, a needle-like mouthpart. When this occurs, the mosquito injects saliva into the human skin containing proteins. This only causes a minor immune response in most people; however, in susceptible individuals, the immune system recognises these proteins as foreign substances & triggers an allergic reaction. Although Skeeter Syndrome is rare, it is a severe medical issue as it can cause serious symptoms, which can be fatal if not addressed on time. Recognising the signs and reducing the risk of mosquito bites is vital to reduce its severity.”

What are the signs of Skeeter Syndrome?

According to Dr Nikhil Kulkarni, this situation typically impacts kids, older adults and folks with impaired or undeveloped immunity ranges and a few widespread signs related to Skeeter Syndrome can embrace the next -

• Intense itching: The affected space might itch intensely, inflicting discomfort and misery.
• Swelling: The chunk web site can grow to be considerably swollen, extending past the rapid space of the chunk.
• Redness: The pores and skin across the mosquito chunk might grow to be purple and infected.
• Pain: Some people might expertise ache or tenderness on the web site of the chunk.
• Blistering: In extreme instances, blisters or massive welts might develop.

In uncommon situations, people with Skeeter Syndrome might expertise systemic signs resembling fever, headache, and fatigue.

Who is in danger for contracting Skeeter Syndrome?

Dr Nikhil Kulkarni answered, “Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, specific categories of people, including outdoor workers (as they have an increased risk of mosquito bites), immunocompromised individuals (babies, young children, and older adults), and people who are travelling to an area that has a lot of mosquitoes are at a higher risk. Additionally, Skeeter's condition can increase the risk of anaphylaxis in pregnant women, which can be life-threatening. It can also lead to Hypotension (low blood pressure) and Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) in pregnant women, who will need immediate medical attention as these conditions can harm both the mother and the unborn child.”

Treatment:

Talking about how Skeeter Syndrome is handled, Dr Nikhil Kulkarni revealed that the primary purpose for treating a affected person with Skeeter Syndrome sometimes entails managing the signs and stopping the severity of the allergic reactions the place some remedy choices embrace:

• Simple house cures might embrace utilizing ice on the mosquito chunk web site to scale back irritation, soothe the sensations of ache & itchiness, and scale back redness. Keeping that half elevated can be a good suggestion if there's vital swelling.
• Another common house treatment is making use of a combination of cooked oatmeal to the world. Applying oats on to the location or taking an oatmeal bathtub can scale back itching and swelling because it has anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties.
• Over-the-counter antihistamines can assist alleviate itching and scale back swelling. While topical corticosteroid lotions or ointments are really useful to scale back irritation, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed in extreme instances.
• Although OTC cures can handle most Skeeter Syndrome signs, extra extreme instances might require medical remedy like immunotherapy and topical steroids.

Prevention suggestions:

Suggesting stop Skeeter Syndrome and when to go to a physician, Dr Nikhil Kulkarni stated, “It's impossible to prevent Skeeter Syndrome as a person cannot control how the immune system reacts to specific proteins. The best way to avoid a reaction is to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, especially if the person has already suffered an episode of Skeeter Syndrome before. Also, creating a treatment plan with a doctor is ideal to prevent this condition from hampering the quality of life.”

He concluded, “Seeking medical help is extremely important if someone with Skeeter Syndrome develops anaphylaxis after getting a mosquito bite. Additionally, if a mosquito bite results in severe swelling or pain (especially those that persist after using home remedies), signs of a skin infection, bruising or blisters, high fever and difficulty breathing, head to a doctor immediately.”